By Jerry Burke
According to police, former captain and 11-year veteran Thomas Mannle, 39, was driving his 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound on Dogwood Avenue. At about 3 p.m., a car heading northbound was making a left hand turn into the shopping center just north of Seabury Avenue. Police say Mannle collided into the car, throwing him about 40 feet into a nearby parking lot.
Witnesses say Mannle's bike was trapped underneath the car with parts strewn in a path towards were he landed. After a few gasps of air, Nassau police say he was pronounced dead 30 minutes later after his arrival at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre.
Fifth Squad Det. Sgt. John Roden said that the father of three was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The cause of death has been determined as blunt force trauma to the neck, chest and pelvic area with a laceration of the aorta, according to a spokesperson at the Nassau Medical Examiner's office.
The driver of the car, a 49-year-old Franklin Square resident, was treated for a head laceration and released from Mercy the same day. Roden said they have declared the incident an accident and that no charges would be brought against the driver, who told police he didn't see the motorcycle coming until it was too late. Police impounded both vehicles for safety checks.
For the last 11 years, Mannle served with the Franklin Square Munson Fire Department with great distinction, according to Chief Louis Sabatino. He was named 1999's "Firefighter of the Year" in the department for running into a basement during a roaring house fire to pull out a victim. Although the man Mannle pulled out died shortly afterwards, his courage was duly noted by his compatriots. He had been planning to run for captain again this April.
Moments after news of the accident had spread among the volunteer unit, almost half of the force gathered at the firehouse to await word about his condition. Finally recovering from the loss of three of their own on Sept. 11, Fire Commissioner Doris Griffin said this was devastating.
"Now we have to deal with this. It's almost too much," said Griffin.
